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CriticalCommonEngine

MG HS: 1.5T Timing Chain Rattle on Cold Start

1.5T Timing Chain Rattle on Cold Start is a common engine fault on the MG HS on the 2019 onward cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $1,200 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 9 documented faults on the MG HS.

Vehicle
MG HS
Engine
1.5L
Years
2019 onward
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
auto
System
Engine

This page covers the MG HS as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All MG HS faults9 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

The front of a dual overhead camshaft engine with the timing cover removed, exposing the timing chain and sprockets.Example of the part — not this vehicle

The front of a twin-cam engine with the timing cover off — chain, sprockets and guides.

Logansenf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The MG HS 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine (15T, GM-sourced Ecotec-derived architecture) exhibits timing chain tensioner rattle on cold start, documented extensively in NZ and AU owner forums and by independent workshops. The tensioner does not maintain adequate chain tension at cold oil pressure, and chain wear accelerates when oil change intervals are extended beyond factory specification. Left unaddressed, chain slack can cause timing deviation and significant engine damage.

What you would notice

  • Metallic rattle from top of engine immediately on cold start, fading as oil pressure builds
  • Rattle persisting after engine reaches operating temperature in severe cases
  • Check engine light with variable valve timing correlation codes
  • Rough idle when engine is cold

How to check it

Where to look. Timing chain on front of engine block, upper tensioner and chain guides

  1. Cold-start the engine immediately after a cool soak and listen for top-end chain rattle.

  2. Check oil level and condition.

  3. Request full service history to verify oil change intervals and grades used.

  4. Scan for P0016 or P0017 camshaft correlation fault codes.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$1,200 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the timing chain or tensioner been inspected or replaced?”
  • “What oil change interval and oil grade has been followed?”
  • “Any check engine lights related to engine timing in the vehicle history?”

Now check the MG HS you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

MG HS buyer questions

Is 1.5t timing chain rattle on cold start serious on a MG HS?

We rate it critical and common on the MG HS. The MG HS 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine (15T, GM-sourced Ecotec-derived architecture) exhibits timing chain tensioner rattle on cold start, documented extensively in NZ and AU owner forums and by independent workshops. The tensioner does not maintain adequate chain tension at cold oil pressure, and chain wear accelerates when oil change intervals are extended beyond factory specification. Left unaddressed, chain slack can cause timing deviation and significant engine damage.

How much does it cost to fix on a MG HS?

$1,200 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which MG HS years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2019 onward MG HS. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Cold-start the engine immediately after a cool soak and listen for top-end chain rattle. Check oil level and condition. Request full service history to verify oil change intervals and grades used. Scan for P0016 or P0017 camshaft correlation fault codes. Look here: Timing chain on front of engine block, upper tensioner and chain guides